Why Isn't God Hearing My Prayers?

Have you ever gone through a period of your life where you were feeling like God wasn't hearing your prayers?  Many people will say, "God hears all prayers," but that isn't what the Bible says.  Here are 5 reasons your prayers aren't being heard (or answered):

1. You're not a Christian.  I'm saying this first not because it's likely your case if you're reading this, but rather since it's the prerequisite for God to hear and answer your prayers.  John 9:31 says, "Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth."  This says that God only hears the prayers of those who are saved.
2. You're in sin or not obeying God.  Proverbs 28:9:  "He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination."
3. You're a husband and not in good terms with your wife.  Strangely, I don't hear this one discussed, however, it is in the Bible, and I personally think it's the number one reason Christian men don't get their prayers heard and answered.  1 Peter 3:7 says, "Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered."
4. God wants you to pray more about it.  Luke 11:5-10:  "And he [Jesus] said unto them, 'Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?'  And he from within shall answer and say, 'Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.'  I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.  And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.'"  Some scholars say that it could even read, "Keep asking [...] keep seeking [...] and keep knocking."
5. You are doubting God.  James 1:6-8 says, "But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.  For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.  A double minded man is unstable in all his ways."

Don't let these reasons get in your way because each and every one of these reasons is dependent on you (your faith, your sins, etc), so you can have the blessings that God wants you to have by Him answering your prayers.  This doesn't mean you can do anything apart from God, but through God you can overcome these obstacles to your prayers being answered.